Bala Süleyman Ağa Tomb

Artillery Chief Bala Süleyman Ağa is one of the elite soldiers who participated in the conquest of Istanbul and was included in the “Nime’l-Ceyş”.
After the conquest, he had a modest mosque with masonry walls and a wooden roof and a well built in Silivrikapı. He was buried in the graveyard of this mosque, which he had built.
Süleyman Ağa, who is remembered for his foundation works as well as his military duties, is remembered as one of the leading figures who participated in the conquest of Istanbul.

Construction Year: 1862–63

Ordered by: Sazkar Kalfa (One of the courtiers of Sultan Mahmud II)

Architect: Unknown

Prominent Features:

The tomb was built adjacent to the mosque-tevhidhane within the Bala Complex.
The tomb, which was originally located in the cemetery, was converted into a mausoleum during the expansion of the complex in the 19th century.
The buildings damaged in the 1894 Istanbul earthquake were repaired by Adile Sultan, the daughter of Mahmud II.
In the tomb, there are a total of six wooden coffins belonging to Bala Süleyman Ağa, his wife, Naqshbandi sheikh Şumnulu Ali Efendi and his family.
Inside the tomb, there is also a well built with the first masjid. The wooden bracelet, windlass and bucket of the well are still present.
The ceiling of the tomb is decorated with octagonal star-shaped slats; this simple decoration is in accordance with the late Ottoman architecture of the period.
The tomb’s façade is decorated with wooden eaves, relief motifs and a verse band by calligrapher Ömer Faik Efendi, and bears beautiful examples of classical Ottoman calligraphy.
As part of the tomb, mosque and complex, it became a center for the Naqshbandi and Rifai orders and a sacred area where Postnişins (Head of a Sufi lodge) were buried.
There is a window connection between the tomb and the mosque; this detail represents the spiritual closeness seen in the religious sect buildings.

*“Happy Soldiers”, an honorary title given to those who participated in the Conquest of İstanbul